After Happy Birthday, Buck (also in this book)

"Look at him, Sam," you nodded towards Steve, "have you ever seen someone so bummed out by their own birthday?"

Sam stood at your side, the two of you almost uncomfortably wedged in the kitchen doorway that overlooked the living room of your Wakandan home. It wasn't meager by any means, but it wasn't a good environment to lend itself to privacy either, and Steve had failed miserably to find any in the spot he had chosen to sulk in. "No one likes to get older, (Y/N)," he answered quietly, "and he's only got one year left before he hits the century mark. You saw how low Barnes got when he reached triple digits."

"That was only because we ruined his cake. What's Cap's excuse?"

"Hmm," Sam paused, bringing his hand to his chin as he thought it over, "well, maybe he's still a virgin. That would sure kill my vibe if I hadn't hit it by 100."

"Oh my god, Sam, that isn't it."

"You sure?"

"What? Do you want me to ask?" you laughed, shocked at the insinuation. "No thank you."

"Hey, Cap!"

"No, Sam! Shut up!" You pushed up on your toes, trying and failing to clap your hand over his mouth before he could make an ass out of the both of you, but he dodged and turned, evading your every attempt. "Sam, don't!"

"Yeah?" Steve turned to face you. His look of despondency was wiped away for a moment as he watched the two of you struggling, actually laughing genuinely at the sight of how miserably you were failing. Even though he had come here to find a spot to wallow in self-pity, he appreciated your efforts to drag him out of the hole he had dug for himself; despite your efforts, he knew that he was far too heavy to lift from it.

"(Y/N) wants to know if you're still a virgin!"

"Son of a bitch, Wilson," you groaned, "why do I even talk to you?" Your posture faltered and slumped, embarrassed that he had actually said that to Steve, but more so that Steve thought that it was your idea. "Steve, I'm sorry. I'm not the one who brought it up. That was Asshat over here. I really don't care if you're a virgin or not."

"Well, if you have to know-"

"No! I don't," you answered quickly. "Really, all good." Turning away from your Captain just to make the point as clear as possible, you took Sam's arm in your hand with a pinch of his skin that made him wince, shoving him back into the kitchen and out of sight. "You're such a jerk! Just once, can you open your mouth and not make trouble?"

"But I'm booooored," he whimpered, "we've been here for over a year now."

You opened you mouth to argue when it struck you, the same exact answer that you had given Clint only a few weeks before when he had whined about it first; it was as plain as day, and you had missed it completely. "That's it! He's bored."

"No, I said that I'm bored. You need to listen."

"Sam, I heard you. You said that we've been here over a year." You turned slowly on your heel, back towards where Steve had gone back to his uncharacteristic sulk, chewing on your thumbnail anxiously as your mind ran through options of how to help the guy. None of you had really planned anything for his birthday because he had asked you all not to, but with the look on his face and the broken slump of his posture making your heart ache, you decided that this was one order that you weren't about to follow. "I've got it!"

"Pfft, you don't got it," Sam scoffed in disbelief with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Just bake him a cake like you did for Frosty and get him on a sugar high. Problem solved." He quickly exited to leave you in the room alone, which may have been just the impetus needed for you to get your plan underway. With one more quick glance out towards Steve, just to be sure that he wasn't looking to move any time soon, you hurried out from the other side of the kitchen to search for the one item you needed to make this whole thing work.

That, and the help of your favorite king.

~~~

It was only a few hours later that your plan was set into fast motion, working quickly to be sure that it could be done before Steve's birthday was over. Now there was no time left at all to bake the cake you had planned on, much to Bucky's dismay almost more than Steve's, but you could only hope that your newly acquired accomplices would get it done for you. Moving at record setting speeds, you ushered in the entire complement of Team Cap into one of T'Challa's private jets, waiting until they were all settled and quiet before allowing the pilot to take off.

"So, now can I know where we're going?" Steve asked first, snapping his safety harness closed as he sat next to you. "You've got me captive." His hand came up to his throat, running a finger under the rim of his collar with a gentle tug, as if the tie you had helped him put on was choking away his air.

"Says the guy who routinely jumps without a parachute," you smirked, turning to help him readjust the knot. "You know as well as I do that you're in no way captive."

"Hmm, true. But seriously, why are we all dressed up? I told you that I didn't want anything special for my birthday, (Y/N)."

"Yeah, (Y/N), where did you find tuxes that fit us so fast?" Scott joined in, with an agreeing Clint at his side. "And I have to say, you and Wanda look amazing. No way that you just threw all of this together by yourself since this morning."

"I sure did."

"Bullshit," Sam snorted, "you've always been T'Challa's favorite. One snap of your fingers and here we are, itchy and uncomfortable. At least I look good doing it."

"Sam, what have I said about shutting up?" you hissed between clenched teeth. T'Challa was sitting only a few seats away, and the last thing you wanted now, when everyone was cleaned up and presentable, and when your surprise was just about to happen, was to start some petty argument over favoritism. "Maybe just stay quiet for the rest of the trip, okay? It's a few hours away yet, so take advantage of a little rest. Please, do it for the rest of us."

"But he is correct," T'Challa added readily, "you are my favorite."

"Told ya," Sam laughed, his tongue stuck out petulantly. "Ass kisser."

"Please, stop," you groaned, but before they could say more, Steve interrupted to save you and his voice had never been more welcome.

"Actually, (Y/N), before we get wherever it is that you're taking us, I want to say thanks now so I don't forget later," Steve whispered. "Maybe this wasn't such a bad idea to get everyone out for a bit. I know that we've been in Wakanda longer than I promised you all we would be, and I'm sorry for that. I guess I haven't been all that great of a leader for my own team."

"No, Steve, you've been wonderful. You're the one who brought everyone back together. We'd still be in the Raft if it weren't for you."

"You were there because of me."

"We were there because we made a choice," you pressed, your tone firm and conveying the end of the argument. "Now, enough of that. Tonight is about you and celebrating your birthday, okay? Tonight is about-"

"Family," he added hopefully, dropping his gaze to his folded hands as they rested on his lap. The only thing that would draw his eyes away was when your hand rested atop them, and when he looked up at you, the deep blue was glistening with a line of tears ready to spill.

"That's right, Cap. Just remember that for me, okay?" You gave his hand a gentle squeeze and would continue to hold it until the plane would land a few hours later. With a deep breath, you silently hoped for the best and that your rushed and improvised plan would work out the way you needed it to. If it didn't, it might just be the worst mistake you've ever made.

~~~

The jet came to a gentle stop, and your nerves began to rage inside of you. Steve must have felt the tremor of anxiety in the hand that still held his, because he moved to take your hand fully in his own, almost protectively, though he had no idea yet where he was. All you could afford him was a quick smile, pulling your hand away and hurrying to the jet door to block it before anyone could disembark. "Okay, guys, now listen," you began pointedly, "I just want you all to remember that this is about Steve, and that what's on the other side of this door...well, it's about family, like Cap said."

You were met with only silence and stares of confusion, but as the door began to lower, even before anything or anyone came into sight, the look of comprehension filled Sam's expression and he knew exactly what you had done. Once the door was fully open, and the exit was clear, Steve took the first steps down, pausing for a second at the sight in front of him when the moisture pooling in his eyes hazed his vision. The bright lights from the party in front of him didn't help, creating a glow that left mere shadows and silhouettes, though they were still unmistakable. "(Y/N)..."

"Go on," you urged, "it's okay, I promise."

He continued down the last few steps with hesitation, but he was met with a willing hand extended in greeting, choosing to take it just as readily with a wash of relief taking him over at the contact that he thought he would never have again. "It's good to see you, Tony."

"Happy birthday, Steve."